McCarthy: Aaron Rodgers returning to lineup Sunday

Posted by Mike Wilkening on December 26, 2013, 2:44 PM EST

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With the NFC North title on the line, Aaron Rodgers is returning to the Packers’ starting lineup.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy announced Thursday that Rodgers, the club’s star quarterback, is on track to start the season finale at Chicago after missing the previous seven games with a broken collarbone.

“He’s throwing the ball very well going on three weeks. He’s been working his feet, working his conditioning, and getting ready for this moment. And that moment’s here,” McCarthy said Thursday.

McCarthy said the club has done its “due diligence” and that Rodgers “is ready.”

A victory by the Packers (7-7-1) will give the Packers their third consecutive division title. They currently trail Chicago (8-7) by a half-game.

Rodgers suffered the injury in the first quarter of Green Bay’s November 4 loss to Chicago. At the time, the 30-year-old Rodgers was playing at an exceptionally high level for Green Bay, which was then atop the NFC North. Even as the Packers dealt with a host of injuries to key pass catchers, Rodgers thrived, leading Green Bay to an unbeaten record in October.

Matt Flynn has been the Packers’ primary replacement for Rodgers, starting four games. He replaced Scott Tolzien, who started twice after Seneca Wallace was injured early in the Packers’ first game without Rodgers.

On the season, Rodgers has completed 168-of-251 passes for 2,218 yards with 15 TDs and four interceptions. He has compiled a 108.0 quarterback rating.

The only good news for the Bears is at least they didn’t blow it as bad as the Lions. But they both had a clear, easy path to the playoffs and now both could be sitting at home to a team that didn’t win for a month. Ouch.

seatownballers says:Dec 26, 2013 3:00 PM

Packers and Dallas need to take notes from what happened to redskins last season

Packer fans better hope their coach got the memo and doesn’t have Rodgers drop back 40 times on Sunday.

rikker12 says:Dec 26, 2013 3:22 PM

I’m a die hard Packer fan and I’m happy Rodgers is back! But it still doesn’t change the fact that whoever wins sunday, they won’t go far in the playoffs. both Defenses are average at best. To many injuries for both teams. Go Pack Go!!

How convenient. The Packers are seemingly out of the playoff hunt, so Rogers sits on the bench with a hurt collarbone. Now, after Flynn has put out the dumpster fire that was the Packers and they have a shot at the tournament, Rogers all of a sudden declares his bone healed? I’ll bet if you asked Coach McCarthy privately, he would have preferred Aaron gave it a go weeks ago. SMH…

I want the Packers to win for the sole reason that the entire next week leading up to the Wild Card weekend, I can ask the Viking trolls, “Hey, what time do the Vikings play this weekend?”

I would think that the fact that it would be the Packers’ third consecutive NFC North Divisional versus (during that same span) the Vikings basement dwelling in two of the 3 years would be enough to shut them up for awhile but I realize that trolls don’t pay much attention to reality. That’s how they spend the entire off season claiming a Superbowl run with Ponder at QB. How’s that working for ya?

HMM returns to the game that decides the division. doubt he broke anything to begin with. with that being said . based on record, they will be one and done. can u imagine first or second series, he gets slammed onto that rockhard turf on the same shoulder. broken collarbone my butt.

Wonderful, swell. Unfortunately for the Packer fans the defense is the worst in football so who cares, they still lose.

Blame Ted T for playing el cheapo ball all these years and drafting people from colleges you never heard of. Injury prone losers who are small, slow and can’t tackle.
Datone Jones? Who in the hell is he and why is he on the bench most of the time. Perry, couldn’t tackle a girl scout with her arms full of cookies.
Mathews might as well be out for the season, he has done nothing in the past two years.

spicymudbugs says:Dec 26, 2013 3:45 PM

The Seattle SeaChickens would rather see any team besides the Packers coming into their place.

I love how some of these fools think Rahjahs is a lock to play this sunday. The exact quote is: Packers coach Mike McCarthy announced Thursday that Rodgers, the club’s star quarterback, is on track to start the season finale.

He is on track provided some organizational decision does not interfere. Either way whoever wins sunday will make a quick exit in the playoffs.

Wow packers fans are arrogant. Now that Rodgers is back you think you got the Super Bowl all wrapped up huh? Yeah because Rodgers absence was the only problem Green Bay has…. Enjoy Rusty Rodgers packers fans

Not surprised it’s taken Rodgers several weeks to get back on the field. Collarbone injuries are no joke, I remember Raiders starting QB Jason Campbell hurt his collarbone in week 6 of 2011 (which prompted them to trade for Carson Palmer) and it took him until mid December of that year to be cleared as Carson’s backup.

shlort says:Dec 26, 2013 5:14 PM

Green Bay just went from sub-par to par. Definately enough to beat the Bears. Playoffs? I don’t see teams from the NFC North or NFC East doing much. The 5 and 6 seeds are going to be superior to the 3 and 4 seeds. Hell, the Cardinals are better than half the teams in the playoff hunt and Arizona will be watching from home (barring a miracle to get them in).

That said, I have been surprised before by some teams in recent history. The Ravens, the Packers, the Giants and the Steelers have made some runs no one expected. The slate gets wiped clean in the post season and it is more about attitude than anything.

This is why you never want your team to be a bunch of gutless quitters who embrace the suck in October. Until you’re eliminated, you always have a punchers chance at winning it all.

This Packer season, even more than any of their previous divine seasons, has taught us all why the Vikings and their fans will never be winners.

lambeauwest says:Dec 26, 2013 6:06 PM

Thank goodness Rodgers is back so I don’t have to read all of the BS about Rodgers being soft anymore. Clearly other individuals beside the player have the final say if an injured player can suit up or not. Certainly clear that bitter jealousy or envy is gnawing away at Viking and Lion fans.

I’m clearly not delusional enough to think GB can now win the SB because AROD is back but the odds have dramatically improved from last week.

For those morons saying Shea McClellan is going to re-injure Rodger’s collarbone. I can only assume your heartless person to hope to see a human being get hurt playing a GAME. The collarbone is the easiest bone in the body to break. I once broke a person’s collarbone playing backyard tackle football. It was just a case of landing awkwardly, much like Rodger’s fracture. Win or lose, I’m looking forward to a great epic game in arctic conditions that test the endurance and concentration of the combatants.

Two storied NFL franchises battling it out for the right to represent the NFC North. It seems every year the Packers or Bears earn a spot to the playoffs……. Then there are the Vikings and Lions, lost and trying to find the way.

hazelmn says:Dec 26, 2013 7:33 PM

“If he’s healthy the Packers are no doubt the top team in the NFC North.”

Yes. Which makes them about the 13th best team in the League.

hazelmn says:Dec 26, 2013 7:35 PM

While I can hardly call a matchup between a 7-7-1 and and 8-7 team “epic”, I just might have to watch this game if there is nothing else to do.

Bring him back….it’ll make a Bears victory just that much sweeter..oh..and I hope they have good protection schemes to keep him from getting sacked…cuz you know the Bears are gonna do what ever it takes to hit him!!!!

crownofthehelmet says:Dec 26, 2013 10:09 PM

No surprise he waited until after facing the Steelers D to decide to play. Won’t matter, GB’s too battered from last week’s game to compete so soon.

Even the return of Shaaron won’t be enough. Packers will lose. Bet on it.

biggunns28 says:Dec 27, 2013 1:56 PM

Well I’m Happy Aaron is finally healthy enough and is ready to Duke it out against the Bears. All the Packer’s Fans including myself have been waiting to see Rodgers return healthy and ready to go Bear Hunting. GO PACK GO!

usdcoyotesfan says:Dec 27, 2013 5:22 PM

justintuckrule says: Dec 26, 2013 3:11 PM

He was cold and off target off a bye and lost to the giants in 2011. Can’t imagine he’ll be on his game after a 7 week layoff
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Pretty hard for any QB to look good if their receivers can’t catch a cold.